Need a case upgrade?

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vwcrusher

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Oct 16, 2012
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Hi All,

I am in the process of upgrading GPU and PSU, and for the heck of it I looked up to see when I purchased the case (as cooling is becoming more important to maintain expensive components), and noticed that I purchased it in 2007...see link below:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208021

While it does have both input and exhaust fans, plus a side case fan capability, I wonder if case technology has improved in the last 11 years so that I should consider upgrading that as well (although if it is up to the task, I am perfectly happy to keep it). I clearly have not kept up with this aspect of the industry, so any guidance would be appreciated.
 
Solution
Karadjgne
Well shopping is kinda easy really, if you are prepared. Take a good gander at your current case, figure out what it has, what it don't. Then make some lists. What you need to have, like size or optical usb3, front access audio/usb or top access, silent etc and what would be nice to have but can live without like 3x intakes or RGB, tempered glass etc. Then hit the website and pick out as many cases as look like you'd want to have and are in budget. Start with the need list, any case don't have - toss. This'll leave you with 10 or so choices. Then it's down to the gimmicks, the nice stuff. You'll end up with 2-3 choices. That's when you present the 3 to the wife. Guaranteed she'll have some sort of opinion lol. You'll end up with a case...
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Hi, thanks for the reply.....
Below are current components:

Intel i7-3770 3.4GHz
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO.....edited in.
ASUS P8H77-V MB
16GB DDR3
Samsung 256GB 830 SSD (OS and apps)
1TB WD Black HDD (data)
XFX Pro550W PSU

For GPU upgrade I am thinking GTX 1070 ti or 1080, and for PSU Seasonic Focus Plus 650.
Also, I can also a general system upgrade in the future as well.

Yes, in USA.
Budget, can't see spending more than $150 unless an overwhelming reason to do so.
 
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A case is really nothing more than a box designed for 3 things. First, hold all the pc components. Second, allow for airflow to maintain reasonable temps on the cpu/gpu. Third, be aesthetically pleasing to the owner.

There's cases out there like the Corsair 760t or the CM Cosmos, that have been around forever. They work, do the job, and look good doin it. Case upgrade? It's not as much an upgrade as it is a replacement, usually for aesthetics reasons. Yes, cases have come a long way, but that's mostly just in looks. You went from the old, solid top AT cases to one's allowing front fans, top fans and have 2 doors on the side vrs lifting off the entire surround. That was 20 years ago?

That old Xion was solid. Decent steel construction throughout, but front ventilation is somewhat lacking. Any case with a couple of 120mm front fans would be an improvement to airflow. Which is most decent cases nowadays.

So it boils down to aesthetics. With a $150 budget, that's a pretty sizable option, but where are you headed? Mid tower? Full tower? Tempered glass? RGB with big window? Covered sides? Need optical drive?

There's half a hundred different directions to go, the biggest limiter will be the cpu cooler, which at 160mm will preclude a lot of cases, it's a great cooler for $25, but for $50 there's a huge variety that do a much better job, quieter, and are either just as tall or even shorter.
Case: Phanteks - Enthoo Pro M Tempered Glass (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design - Focus G (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ Walmart)
Case: Fractal Design - Meshify C Dark TG ATX Mid Tower Case ($96.78 @ Walmart)
Case: Phanteks - Eclipse P350X (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg Business)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! - Shadow Rock 2 51.4 CFM Rifle Bearing CPU Cooler ($46.89 @ OutletPC)


 
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Wow, thanks for the info...I will check them out.
I should mention, I could care less about aesthetics....its all about function for me.
Regarding the cooler, my current case is 445mm high and the 160mm cooler fits in.....

It seems that many cases are utilizing top cooling as well, not used to that.
Do any cases actually include the fans?
 
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Yes. I vote for Phanteks - Enthoo Pro M Tempered Glass (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case

and check those out too: NZXT H500, H440, H500i

 
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Pc experts finally got off their duff and branched out into the one area that needed work. Airflow. They finally figured out what the rest of the world learned in the third grade - heat rises. So for most enthusiast class cases, you'll see top grills for fans/radiators. They did save the rear exhaust, it's actually important to one cooler style in particular, the tower. Yes, with a hyper212 or any other tower, that's a must have fan.

Most cases do not come with a full complement of stock fans because they are an added expense that many will toss anyways, having their own led/RGB setups in mind or radiators with included fans etc. So you'll need some fans.

Airflow is important, always has been, but with big output gpus and cpus it's even more so. But, the air just has to move. You don't need gale force windage in there, just cool air in - hot air out. Optimal usage is 2x intake fans, 2x exhausts for a mid tower, but this can be tailored to suit and according to fan. With a 200mm, that's basically the same as 2x 120mm etc. With 3x intakes, 3x exhaust it'll show diminishing returns in temps, the air doesn't stay in the pc long enough to exchange enough heat, so does barely more than 2x2. But, 3x3 will also spin a lot slower as a result, for the same amount of work, so is quieter. Unless you prefer noise. With lighted fans, many prefer the symmetry of having all 3 lit, covering the full front vrs a single down low.

And as my wife will tell you, having an eyesore looking case in between her nice decor really messes with her Feng Sui, and can be a justification for a new case that makes everyone happy.

 
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@karadjgne, LOL, I like your writing style......and I appreciate the education.

So, given what you suggested, and perhaps @vapour's as well, are there any cases that will be quiet (I can't say I or my wife like fan noise) and are no more than 18" high (it will fit where my current case resides)? The last requirement is a 'nice-to-have.'

I like the idea of 3x3 as the air flow will be slow and non-turbulent enough to be an efficient way to remove heat, but also not be loud....and a little Feng Sui isn't so bad.
 
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Figures, only the Enthoo Pro-M is a little too tall, by an inch, but the rest of the 4 I suggested are all the same , if not just smaller than 18" tall, so will work out fine.

You can go to pcpartpicker.com , look at a huge variety of cases, tailored for your needs or wants and if you click on LIST view , it'll have thumbnail pics of almost all the cases, so at least you'll have a clue as to what to toss out. There's many cases that'll fit your needs and wants, but cases and mice and keyboards are all extremely personal items and what exactly I prefer might not quite sit right with you. You might not even want a black case, but won't know that till the idea of white tickles your fancy lol
 
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The Enthoo Pro-M is an inch taller, but it has the 3x front fan capability, where the Meshify C does not. From your previous post, how much fan noise mitigation will 3 front fans vs 2 really provide? I think I will start with closely comparing the 4 you suggested using pcpartpicker and see where it goes from there.

I tend to be more of a functionality than form person....and I do have an optical drive which I hardly ever use. If you don't mind if I find a case the seems to fit my needs, I'd like to run it by you to see if I have missed something important from a functionality perspective.
 
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Pick several, for sure. Although the fans on the higher grade cases, like the better Phanteks or Nzxt or Fractal Design tend to be much better quality than the low end cases, and are built for performance in mind. That includes near silent performance too. The 2x 140mm on my FD Design R5 are inaudible behind the door, the R5 being a 'silent' design case. A single 140mm at 600rpm puts out more air than many 120mm at over 1000rpm, so dual 140mm is plenty good, leaving the possibility of optical drive placement. Of course there's also cases where you can remove the optical and add a third fan if needed/wanted.

It's your case, you have to look at it, live with it, work with it, so by all means, go shopping!
 
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Whoa, this is a whole new view....so cases are available that have both good air flow and are silent?
 
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Cases don't make noise. Fans do. With decent quality fans anything @900rom or lower is quiet - silent. I have a CM 690 II Advanced that's pretty much all mesh front and top with venting on both sides. Not a silent designed case by any means. The fans spin @450rpm at idle, dead silent at more than 6" from the case, and gaming loads sees @650-700rpm, which is still extremely quiet. In a mesh case. It runs 24/7/365 and is so quiet that I had to teach the wife to look for the power-on led first, before just pushing the button.

So yes, there are cases with good airflow that are designed for silence, my R5 has decent airflow is is considered a silent case, it's got foam matting inside on panels that can vibrate and to absorb fan harmonics. And doors on the top that are removable if you go with top exhaust instead of just the one rear.

You can make any case quiet, that's on the fans, fan curves, cpu/gpu cooling ability and their respective fans. A quiet case can be made more so.
 
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Thanks for the reply....I do understand the physics; I just thought that there might be a straightforward solution without having to delve into the details of many cases.....oh well.

So, at this point I think I will focus my efforts on three manufacturers - unless there are others I should consider (Fractal, Phanteks, and NZXT) and see what shakes out.

Again, appreciate the guidance. : )
 
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Well shopping is kinda easy really, if you are prepared. Take a good gander at your current case, figure out what it has, what it don't. Then make some lists. What you need to have, like size or optical usb3, front access audio/usb or top access, silwhat would be nice to have but can live without.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Well shopping is kinda easy really, if you are prepared. Take a good gander at your current case, figure out what it has, what it don't. Then make some lists. What you need to have, like size or optical usb3, front access audio/usb or top access, silent etc and what would be nice to have but can live without like 3x intakes or RGB, tempered glass etc. Then hit the website and pick out as many cases as look like you'd want to have and are in budget. Start with the need list, any case don't have - toss. This'll leave you with 10 or so choices. Then it's down to the gimmicks, the nice stuff. You'll end up with 2-3 choices. That's when you present the 3 to the wife. Guaranteed she'll have some sort of opinion lol. You'll end up with a case that has your needs, some of the nice extras, you like, she likes.
 
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